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Fri, 06 Nov 2015 09:57:51 +0000ru-RUhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.19White roofs, global warming, and unintended consequenceshttp://roofingpost.com/zinc-roofs/white-roofs-global-warming-and-unintended/
http://roofingpost.com/zinc-roofs/white-roofs-global-warming-and-unintended/#commentsFri, 06 Nov 2015 09:57:51 +0000http://roofingpost.loc/%d0%b1%d0%b5%d0%b7-%d1%80%d1%83%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%ba%d0%b8/white-roofs-global-warming-and-unintended/Painting roofs white is often touted as a great idea to fight global warming. Obama’s former Energy Secretary Steven Chu once pitched such a solution. While a white roof does keep an individual building cooler, there are some unintended consequences for general usage: white roofs may make arid regions dryer and increase energy consumption in cooler regions. Surprised? Read on.

Researchers from Arizona State University found that warming resulting from megapolitan expansion is seasonally dependent, with greatest warming occurring during summer and least during winter. Among the most practical ways to combat urbanization-induced warming – the painting of buildings roofs white – was found to disrupt regional hydroclimate, highlighting the need for evaluation of tradeoffs associated with combating urban heat islands (UHI). (See press release .)

In a paper published in Environmental Research Letters (see full paper here ) these researchers studied possible effects of white roofs on Arizona’s sun corridor (Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, and Nogales). Note that this is a computer simulation study.

Urbanization, with its tendency to cover natural surface with various artificial surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, and buildings, which reduce natural evapotranspiration causes a reduction in rainfall. Their maximum urbanization scenario leads to a 12% reduction in rainfall. Painting roofs white leads to an additional 4% reduction in rainfall. That’s not something desirable in an arid climate.

The researchers do note: Integration of highly reflective cool roofs within the built environment offsets about half of urban-induced warming, leading to small regional-scale cooling during the winter season. But, the combined effects of UHI-induced warming and evapotranspiration changes act in the same direction and reinforce one anotherthereby making the already arid region dryer.

The researchers provide a caveat in the usual academic jargon: While we consider our results robust, we recognize the value of a model intercomparison and differing parameterization selection that could improve simulated diagnosis of uncertainty quantification. Translation: we think we are right, but with computer models it’s garbage in, garbage out.

As part of the research for this article, I contacted a major national manufacturer of membrane roofing systems, mainly for commercial and industrial applications. That company (which prefers not to be named) produces both dark and white roofing systems. To my surprise, the company spokesman said that while white roofs may keep a building cooler, they nonetheless have some detrimental unintended consequences when used in cool climates. These unintended consequences include:

Elevated rooftop temperatures:

White roofs may keep the roof surface and building cooler, but, the heat has to go somewhere. Heat reflected from white roofs can cause the ambient air temperature above the roof to be hotter than it ordinarily would. That can effect the performance of air conditioning units in two ways. First, the higher temperature of the ambient air causes the A/C unit to work harder, using more energy.

Second, the electrical conduits feeding A/C units become less efficient when temperature rises, according to an article in IAEI magazine . a trade publication for electrical inspectors.

The interiors of conduits in sunlight, such as those containing conductors feeding air conditioning units on rooftops, become significantly hotter than the outside air (which is always measured in the shade). Data show that these temperature differentials can easily reach 70°F, even when the conductors are electrically unloaded. Remarkably, the differentials were found to be essentially independent of the outdoor temperature all through the range from 70°F to above 100°F.

To determine the need for ampacity* corrections, these temperature differentials need to be added to the outdoor temperatures, which reach 90°F or higher in most areas of the USA during the summer months.

[*Ampacity: the maximum amount of electrical current a conductor or device can carry before sustaining immediate or progressive deterioration. Ambient temperature and the ability to shed heat affect the ampacity rating. ]

As might be expected, the temperature differential decreases the further above the roof the conduit is placed. So, for example, when summer temperatures reach 95°F in Chicago, the interior of a conduit lying directly on a roof might be 165°F, while the temperature in a conduit 12 inches above the roof might be 125°F. Interestingly, because light-colored roofs reflect more heat back onto the conduits than dark roofs, their conduit interiors are hotter at heights more than an inch or so above the roof.

Effects on neighboring buildings:

A white roof will reflect heat. If the building with a white roof is surrounded by taller buildings, that reflected heat impinges on neighboring buildings causing them to expend extra energy to keep cool.

Increased Energy Costs:

White roofs keep buildings cooler (depending on the insulation). But, if you are in a northern climate that requires heating in winter, the heating bills will be higher. For instance, the graph below from the Department of Energy’s Cool Roof Calculator shows the additional heating expense for white-roofed buildings in Detroit:

Moisture buildup inside roof:

Because a white roof itself is cooler than a black roof, the white-roofed building is more prone to condensation build up inside the roof on winter days.

Maintenance costs:

White roofs have to be cleaned to maintain their cooling effect. If the roof is not cleaned it loses the anticipated benefits.

Will white roofs provide a solution to the phantom menace of global warming? Probably not, but the idea may sound good. A 2011Stanford study, published in the Journal of Climate: Effects of Urban Surfaces and White Roofs on Global and Regional Climate , estimated that worldwide conversion to white roofs, accounting for their albedo effect only, was calculated to cool population-weighted temperatures by

0.02 Kelvin but to warm the Earth overall by

0.07ºKelvin. That study was computer modeling. The results depend on the assumptions, and, as the author says, the range of uncertainty may be larger than the range of results provided here. The paper concluded that white roofs may have a small impact on the urban heat island effect, but the impact is too small to affect global warming.

The point of this story is that rather than blindly following a politically-correct, one-size-fits-all eco-fad, do your homework to choose a system that is most efficient and cost-effective for your particular application. Also, we see that white is not necessarily green.

For some other great politically-correct schemes, see these posts on my Wryheat blog:

In late medieval and early Renaissance gardens pergolas linked pavilions, extended from a buildings door or provided shelter from direct sunlight for an isolated terrace or pool. Pergolas have vertical posts or pillars that support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice roof. Freestanding pergolas provide sitting areas that allow for breeze and light sun while still protecting inhabitants from the harsh glare of direct sunlight. There are several ways a pergola roof can mak e your back yard more beautiful.

The best spot for a pergola in modern backyards is nearly anywhere. But the most common locations are over a hot tub, alongside a pool, over an outdoor dining area or next to an outdoor fireplace. Some homeowners have created dramatic entrances to their gardens or backyards by constructing pergolas at the gate. Pergolas are perfect for climbing vines and provide shade on hot summer days.

Pergolas have traditionally been constructed out of wood such as pressure-treated pine, teak, redwood and cedar. But wood pergolas require sealing and staining and for this reason many homeowners are choosing to build their pergolas with aluminum, vinyl, composite or plastic lumber materials. Easier to maintain, these products mimic the appearance, color and texture of wood, but aren’t susceptible to insect damage or rot, weather much better and are virtually maintenance-free.

Pergolas can be constructed from a pre-fabricated kit out of wood, aluminum or vinyl or by an experienced contractor. Working with an experienced contractor allows you to control the size, shape, material, color and columns. Building a custom pergola also allows you to control how much sunlight filters through.

Many homeowners select columns or posts that match the architecture of their home, adding to the overall style of their yard. Whether you prefer a Mediterranean or Victorian look, using vinyl materials to build your pergola gives you the freedom to choose from a variety of architectural styles. Whatever style you choose, it should define your outdoor space and create a destination for family and friends. Homeowners have turned average pergolas into stunning backyard features by growing climbing plants either directly in the ground or from containers. Others have built benches and planters into the pergola. For nighttime entertaining, rope lighting or white Christmas tree lights creates a beautiful effect. While others want their pergola to be a private sanctuary, accomplishing this by draping fabric near each post or adding garden lattice to one or more sides. In fact, this technique is used with many pergolas that shelter hot tubs, using privacy panels, half-walls or walls that are solid half way up and using shutters or shades to cover the top half. This allows you to enjoy the world around you while protecting you from the elements.

For a modern Asian flair, use tropical bamboo lighting for your pergola’s lights. For a modern arbor look, use putty gray colored roof materials with white columns. With a stream running under the stone patio, taking up very little space, a small garden and combination pergola and stream make a smart addition.

Pergolas can turn ordinary backyards into the extraordinary. Available in a wide variety of materials and architectural styles, pergolas provide shade on a hot summer’s day or ambiance for entertaining guests at night.

Converting a loft?

Spray on expanding foam is the ideal way to insulate your loft conversion without the need for costly insulation contractors. What’s more, Xpandi-Foam is an excellent foam sealant and is the only true seamless insulation on the market.

Xpandi-foam expands to seal gaps and uneven surfaces and insulates at the same time! This is particularly important under the new building regulations (April 2006) that require air-leakage testing of buildings to reduce energy requirements.

Visit our loft insulation page for more information.

What is Spray Foam Insulation?

Spray Foam, Spray Insulation, Expanding Foam and Foam sealant are common terms for insulation, which is sprayed into place unlike traditional sheets or rolls of insulation, which must be cut and fixed into place.

It is produced from two liquid components that, when combined and sprayed, produce an expanding foam froth. This expanding foam froth then hardens within 3-5 minutes to form a rigid foam with excellent insulating properties. Sprayed foam insulation is now available in do-it-yourself (DIY) kits .

DIY roof, loft and attic insulation. Insulating foam sprayed onto the underside of roof tiles not only insulates, but fixes the tiles in place and prevents slippage — perfect for roofs which are past their prime.

Spray on Foam Insulation for Barn conversions and renovation. The foam can be sprayed between beams and joists, which greatly reduces the time to do the job when compared to traditional insulating methods.

Shelter for the Storm: Comparing Blue and Green Roofs

On the rooftop of Public School 118 in Queens, New York, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in partnership with the Department of Education, is testing two alternative roofing surfaces. For a three year monitoring period, data from the study at PS 118 will be collected and compared in order to determine which green, blue, and control surfaces perform best as stormwater management systems. Because all three surfaces will be on the same building, this study will benefit from increased accuracy by comparing the surfaces under similar environmental conditions. The surfaces are known as blue roofs and green roofs ; the latter is rather well-known, whereas a blue roof is a fairly new source of alternative energy and conservation.

Blue roofs are non-vegetated systems that detain stormwater and are less costly than their green counterparts. This is how they work: Weirs at the roof drain inlets and along the roof create temporary ponding (damming on a small scale) and gradual release of stormwater. Blue roofs complement long and flat roofing styles, and have wide gutters with a sturdy watertight liner. This design works especially well in highly urbanized areas, like New York City, where less space is available for on-site stormwater detention. Some stormwater may be temporarily stored on the roof while the discharge can be released to a stormwater harvesting or infiltration system, or a portion can be discharged to the drainage system at a relatively slower flow rate. As discussed later in this post, blue roofs are particularly suited to New Yorks bid to lessen overflow of sewage into their rivers during storms.

Courtesy NYC Environmental Protection Flickr Photostream

Green roofs, the other surface being tested at PS 118, consist of a vegetative layer that grows in a specially-designed soil, which sits on top of a drainage layer. Green roofs are more costly than conventional roofs, but they are also capable of absorbing and retaining large amounts of stormwater.

As evidenced by the study at PS 118, New York is utilizing blue and green roofs in a way that other cities have yet to explore. Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s sustainability-minded mayor, has identified stormwater management as a pressing urban issue. He believes the utilization of blue and green roofs could save New York City $2.4 billion over 20 years; without the roofs, taxpayers could end up spending $6.8 billion repairing constantly flooded treatment plants. New York’s wastewater system has been around for over a century and was constructed around the idea of Combined Sewer Overflows. CSOs funnel stormwater and municipal sewage into the same pipes, which helps to reduce the need for more infrastructure, as well as helps to dilute the sewage on its way to treatment.

However, this system is not suited to New York’s dense and growing population. The volume of sewage, when stormwater is present, surpasses the capacity of New York’s 14 wastewater treatment plants. When rainfall flow reaches a certain strength and exceeds capacity, the result is an “overflow” of raw sewage into public waterways like the East and Hudson Rivers. This overflow is highly detrimental to the environment and to its human and animal inhabitants. Under the mayor’s plaNYC 2030. he aims to reduce overflows by 40% and make at least 90% of the city’s waterways hospitable for recreation.

Overall, both blue and green roofs help mitigate stormwater by gathering it as rainfall and releasing it gradually over time, instead of rushing into sewers. They both offer an insulating layer on top of a roof to help trap energy in the winter and reflect sunlight in the summer. Green roofs offer an opportunity for biodiversity and food production; blue roofs can be used for irrigation, cleaning sidewalks or reducing potable water use by filling or toilets. Both would be valuable additions to cities everywhere. It will be interesting to see the results of PS 118s blue and green roof experiment, and the implications it could have for sustainability activism.

Now from Aztec Master Flash comes a roof pipe flashing innovation which streamlines the task of sealing roof penetrations and makes it an efficient, cost effective and achievable for both roofing professionals or homeowners who want to do-it-yourself. Roofs are designed to keep weather out of building interiors and would do so with no trouble if it weren’t for the need to permeate the roofing surface at different points, as with vents or pipes, which are needed for venting out or allowing water, gas or electrical in. This is where many times weather is able to violate the barrier provided by the roof surface and damage the building interiors with unwished-for moisture. Therefore to conserve the roof’s function of sealing and protecting the building interior from external weather, these penetration must be sealed in some manner.

Before Aztec Washer’s EPDM or Silicone vent pipe flashing products the only way to seal a leaking or new roof penetration was to have a custom fabricated metal flashing created and installed. Historically, custom fabricated metal flashings were manufactured to address the roof penetration. Someone would have to go up on the roof who was qualified to examine the problem and take accurate measurements to determine proper diminsions and angles.

These dimensions would then be taken back to a metal fabricating shop and the custom fabricated metal pipe boot was made. Then another trip up on the roof was needed to install the metal vent flashing.

Aztec Washer’s advanced roof vent pipe flashing . called the Master Flash Universal Flashing, is the industry standard for traditional roof pipe flashings for those who prefer to install the round style pipe boot. The Universal Master Flash pipe boot flashing has been engineered and designed to maximize the flexibility of the sleave to absorb vibration and pipe movement because the roof and the pipes expands and contracts, while sealing out undesirable elements. The Master Flash Universal Flashing roof pipe flashing design allows for hassle free on-site modification and can suit virtually all installations.

ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE

The Master Flash Universal vent pipe flashing has proved to excel in virtually any setting and delivers consistent performance from ease of installation to leak resistance under a variety of natural weather conditions. It can be relied upon to deliver superior results when used with multiple roofing designs and materials.

OZONE AND UV PROTECTION

This pipe flashing is designed for maximum resistance to all weather conditions and are made of EPDM and Silicone for highest enduringness and functionality. These scientifically formulated materials defy heat, moisture and sun damage and provide long lasting improved performance and great leak resistance.

ON-SITE CUSTOMIZATION

Pipe diameters are clearly marked to insure proper fitting. There is no longer any need for guess work when placing a roof pipe or vent flashing. Accurate measurements are molded into the EPDM or Silicone pipe flashing for ease of trimming for a perfect fit for every installation.

ADAPTABLE BASE

The Master Flash Universal flashing base will effortlessly mold to fit most panel configurations and roof pitches regardless of pipe location. A flexible, malleable metal strip runs around the base of the flashing to enable it to efficiently mold to the irregularities of the roof panels.

ALL AROUND DESIGN EXCELLENCE

This universal flashing has been designed to fit virtually all panel configurations. Sleeve flexibility absorbs vibration and pipe movement caused by expansion and contraction. This pipe boot flashing design easily accommodates all normal installations

]]>http://roofingpost.com/butterfly-roofs/universal-master-flash-roof-pipe-flashing/feed/0Oklahoma City Roofing, Construction & Remodeling Company Van De Steeghttp://roofingpost.com/zinc-roofs/oklahoma-city-roofing-construction-remodeling/
http://roofingpost.com/zinc-roofs/oklahoma-city-roofing-construction-remodeling/#commentsMon, 02 Nov 2015 12:09:04 +0000http://roofingpost.loc/%d0%b1%d0%b5%d0%b7-%d1%80%d1%83%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%ba%d0%b8/oklahoma-city-roofing-construction-remodeling/As Oklahoma City Roofers serving businesses and homes across the state, we know that building successful relationships with our clients is just as important as knowing how to build a quality roof.

Van De Steeg’s dedication to customer satisfaction has been the key to our success. We understand the unique demands that Oklahoma’s climate places on a roof. We’ve seen it all: tornadoes, ice storms and hail damage — our roofing is built to withstand the worst weather.

We are a full-service Oklahoma roofing and construction company. We handle everything from new roof installations, roof restoration, roof maintenance, re-roofing and roofing repairs—all with the assurance you get from working with the most experience OKC roofer. Since opening in 1999, we have become the most well known roofers in Oklahoma City due to our exceptional quality and unbeatable service standards.

At Van De Steeg Roofing & Construction we believe that quality craftsmanship and design are just the foundation of installing a successful roofing system. We go beyond the basics with our innovative roof maintenance programs, extended roofing warranties and great customer service.

If your roof has storm damage we’re the Oklahoma roofer to contact

Trust Van De Steeg roofing & construction for your Oklahoma storm damage inspections, roofing repairs and insurance claims. Van De Steeg’s workmen are trained and experienced to not only inspect your roof for damage, but can assist you with filing your insurance claim.

CALL US TOLL FREE: 1-888-379-7500

OKC NUMBER: (405) 755-7500

Emergency repairs & emergency tarping call: (405) 740-7746

What if my roof doesn’t appear to be damaged?

If your roof went through a hail storm or your area recently experienced straight-line winds, you may not see visible damage. However, that doesn’t mean that your roof isn’t damaged. If enough granules were knocked loose, the sun will hit the exposed asphalt, further damaging the roof and underlayment.

Exposed asphalt will deteriorate and more granules will come loose. In a few months and after a few rains, the damage will be readily evident.

Call our Oklahoma City based roofing company and a trained specialist can do a full inspection to uncover any damage in time for you to file your insurance claim, and before further damage is done.

HOW DO I KNOW YOU’RE A REPUTABLE OKLAHOMA ROOFER?

Van De Steeg & Associates Is a local Oklahoma and construction company serving statewide since 1999.

Check out The Oklahoman article on NewsOk about Oklahoma City roofing scams, featuring tips from our own Erik Van De Steeg.

Van de Steeg is the leader in Oklahoma roofing manufacturer, installation, and repair. Our experienced roofers are proud to hold distinctions of honor from Master Elite, Platinum Preferred, and Master Shingle.

AF-Elk Master Elite Roofing Contractor: Only the top 3% of all roofing contractors meet GAF-Elk’s stringent standards to qualify as Master Elite™ contractors! As a GAF-Elk Master Elite™ contractor, we can assure you that you’ll be dealing with a quality, reputable and professional Oklahoma roofing contractor — not some “fly-by-nighter”.

CertainTeed Select Shingle Master Roofer: Van De Steeg has met the stringent requirements for workmanship and financial stability set by CertainTeed to become a SELECT ShingleMaster™ (SSM). Only an SSM Roofer can offer you the highest level of SureStart PLUS™ extended warranty coverage when an Integrity Roof System is installed on your home.

CALL US TOLL FREE: 1-888-379-7500

OKC NUMBER: (405) 755-7500

Your Oklahoma City Roofing, Construction & Remodeling Specialist

Elite Concrete Oklahoma City

Van De Steeg’s Elite Concrete is a full service Oklahoma City concrete company. We are here for all of your unique concrete needs across Oklahoma.

But, if you do a cost-benefit analysis on EPDM, it will come out looking pretty good. It is still one of the least expensive roofs and has a long proven track record of performance.

There are a ton of Class C Motorhomes out there with this older, but proven, roofing solution. And in all likelihood, some of them will need a little sprucing up.

Therefore, if EPDM is on your roof, you should know that it will need attention; and with a little bit of luck, you will not ever have to do any more to it than clean the thing.

How Often Should We Clean Our EPDM Rubber Roofs?

The question is, how often should this be done? Well, like everything else out there, it depends. As a rule of thumb, I want to stay off my roof as much as possible. Just being up there will track dirt, grime, and grease. I simply do not want to grind this stuff into my rubber roof.

This tracking problem occurs most often around the ladder. I’ve noticed that when I step out off of my ladder onto the rubber roof; I always step in the same spot each time. It has to do with the hand holds on the ladder. Getting on the thing is sort of a learned technique.

I am very methodical when I’m on my rubber roof. Anytime anyone is on top of an RV, safety has to be a priority. Focusing on some task and stepping off your rig is not the way anyone

wants to end the day!

To answer the question about how often a rubber roof should be cleaned, a quote from DICOR (a leading manufacturer of EPDM roofing material) recommends the following, "To maintain your warranty, all that is required is periodic cleaning at least 3 to 4 times per year".

Interestingly enough, DICOR has also determined that there is no need to apply any type of protectant on the rubber roof. However, they do not take issue with putting a protectant on an EPDM roof as long as it does not contain ANY petroleum distillates. Petroleum causes a blistering effect that raises the EPDM up off of the wood sub frame. When this happens, there is a loss of adhesion. This can allow water intrusion. water intrusion means you will have to do some type of RV roof repair.

Whether a person goes up on an EPDM roof once a year, or four times a year, a rubber roof will require a good

inspection on a regular basis.

Temperature Variations Can Cause All Kinds

Of Potential Leaks

In a year’s time, an average Class C Motorhome rubber roof will see temperature variations from over 100 degrees F. to potentially below freezing. This will cause expansion and contraction issues. These issues often display themselves as small cracks.

They can be seen on the edges of the roof and anywhere there has been a penetration in the roof. ladder brackets, vents, air conditioner, etc.

The Graphic to the right shows a vent with several years of wear and tear on the self leveling sealant that was used to act as a barrier between the rubber roof and this vent.

At first glance, it doesn’t look too bad. However, if one were to look closely at the area circled in red, on the right side of the opening, it can be seen that the sealant may be peeling back a little bit. It is hard to tell, but I felt that this deserved further investigation.

Rule Number One. Do No Harm

Having said this, there is a kind of catch 22 going on. Rule number one when dealing with roofs would be. do no harm. What this means is, if it is working, leave it alone. The problem is, how does a person know if the sealing barriers are working? Messing with it might cause a problem where none exists. So, when is a good time to start ripping things apart?

Well, if you are somewhat handy with basic tools, you can perform a leak test on your rig. After you have pressurized your Class-C-Motorhome it is a simple matter of spraying the outside of your rig along any seams on the rubber roof using a bubble solution. You then look to see if any bubbles form. If a bubble becomes apparent, you have a leak! This is a pretty straight forward test. Using this method will go a long way toward doing necessary repair damage to your rig.

This do no harm philosophy makes for a very subjective process that takes into account multiple factors. It is also a reason that many people do not want to attempt ANY type of RV roof repair on their own. If you feel this way, that’s fine. There are many qualified Class C Motorhome roof repairmen that can do the job in a short time.

For those who feel comfortable attempting this type of maintenance, I have to make the statement that I cannot be responsible for any undesired results. Simply put, I’m only attempting to show what I have found to work for me. This page is not meant to be a comprehensive manual on roof repair.

My personal experience tells me to look at the general condition of a roof. If it is still white, with a few mold spots and some dirt on it, I clean it off using a specific product designed for that purpose.

What Are The Products Available To Perform A RV Roof Clean-up And/Or Roof Repair

Any RV supply store can guide a person in the right direction when it comes to the selection of product choice. After a thorough cleaning, I get down on my hands and knees and look everything over very closely.

Remember, this is being done, for the most part, along the edge of the Class C Motorhome. I always want to be very careful with this process. A person only needs to fall off an RV once to understand it is not a good idea.

What I look for are cracks that can be very small (as little as pin holes) or somewhat larger. The photo below shows an area with loose silicon that I chose to replace with a Geocel product call PRO FLEX.

Bottom line, Geocel has all the sealing qualities of silicone, but it is capable of being reapplied to itself, or even painted, after it dries. I find that if I can use my finger and move the silicon away from the roof edge, it probably has a problem.

If it has a tendency to stay in place without forcing it, it is probably going to still be a good water barrier.

I have found, through experience, that if there is no silicon on your Class C, don’t put any on. It is a real pain. it is also old technology. If you have a Class C with silicon on it, look it over very closely. it may not be doing the job as well as you think it is.

The more I look at my rubber roof, the better feel I will have for what is going on up there. You want to become familiar with its condition. If you do this, you will be better able to see things

that may cause problems.

There Are Specific Things To Look For When You

Inspect Your RV Roof

If I see smaller cracks that are not involved with silicon, I simply apply some self leveling white sealant or, depending the location, ProFlex RV Flexible Sealant. The trick is, just like working with any adhesive, site preparation is critical. I make sure the area around the repair is clean and dust free. If it is not, I am just spinning my wheels.

If the penetrating crack is large and looks dusty, rusty, or grimy. which it probably will, this would indicate the need to investigate further. This is very subjective.

Going back to the issue of potential water intrusion through my vent, I felt that there was enough evidence to probe further.

I started to remove some sealant and exposed what appeared to be a leak. Referring to the graphics above and below, you will see rust and dirt where there shouldn’t be any. If the sealant was sticking properly this rust and dirt simply would not be there. So I tore it down further and discovered what appeared to be universal water intrusion.

Just look at how rusted out the screws are. There is not a lot of security here. I see water intrusion on all of the access points securing this vent to the surface of the roof.

I went ahead and cleaned everything up, replaced the screws and resealed it. This looks like something that has been going on for awhile.

As a note, I have owned my Class C Motorhome for four years. There had been no evidence of leakage inside the rig until our trip to Wright’s Beach in January, 2008.

After getting home from that trip and looking everything over, I discovered evidence of a leak in the shower area. There were dirty streaks running down the shower walls.

Referring to the graphic on the right, you can see that there is a good adhesion now where before things were starting to lift. You will also note that I did not remove all of the old sealant. Where it showed evidence of good adhesion, I left it alone and just put the new on top of the old. There was no point in attempting to remove this sealant because if I did, there was a good risk of tearing the thin EPDM rubber roof underneath.

As A note, if you do make a mistake and tear your rubber roof it need not be catastrophic event. There is a liquid roofing product on the market. It technically called Liquid EPDM. At any rate, for small RV roof repairs it can be a satisfactory solution.

You Can’t Just Clean It Up Once And

Then Forget About It

Now, here is the kicker. When I first purchased my Class C Motorhome, I did a lot of the type of stuff that we talked about here. Three years ago I removed a ton of silicon, I cleaned my black roof and found out it was supposed to be white. I found where the rubber roof sheet had worn through to the wood. That’s right. when I cleaned the sucker, I found wood in places. I took care of all these things.

This is the important lesson. I did this three years ago,

and I thought I was good to go. It looked so good when I was done, I believed that it would last forever. But it won’t. I now know that I have to stay on top of things, or I will get leaks.

When a major leak occurred (in the cab-over section), I thought I had destroyed my Class C Motorhome. However, I had the good luck to have a friend that was not afraid to tackle a tough project.

I learned a VERY valuable lesson this last summer. It all boils down to paying attention. I now know that I either have to go up on my RV and check out the rubber roof, or I have to pay someone to do it because it is much easier to fix a leak before it becomes a problem.

Hello you are at Eugene Roof Cleaning services. We have over 7 yrs experience in commercial cleaning and power washing here in the beautiful northwest.Our eugene oregon power washing business will give you the best rates and service in lane county oregon .Currently at this moment we are only limited to the work listed. Due to the equipment we have; at this moment roof and house siding cleaning jobs only. So rest assure you will be in great hands no matter who you get! We charge fair market prices that are affordable and deliver quality work around springfield, eugene,junction city,cottage grove, creswell, veneta, oakridge and florence! Paying less does not mean you get less! Paying cheap does get you less and bad quality! Seeing as how the economy is I feel that its our job to work with our future or current customers in meeting there needs while making a living for ourselves.Our motto is "principals and people before profit".This could not be more right in these times.Please take some time and inform yourself to make a proper decision if our roof cleaning service would help you.Eugene Roof Cleaning wants to provide not just a service but also informative education. Please do leave us an email to set-up a time for an estimate. Below you will find a guesstimate of rates for our different pressure washing services.

If you are considering a pressure washing job for your home, it is always better that you understand exactly how the process works. In order to be able to get a better understanding, it is also a good idea to know the elements that make up the costing. This way you will be able to tell whether or not the price that you are paying is reasonable.

The first element — time

When you outsource a job like this to a washing firm, the first thing that they will be charging you for is the amount of time that it will take to finish your project. The time taken will depend solely on two things, the area that requires cleaning and the amount of cleaning that is required. In other words the longer eugene roof pressure washing cleaning has to work at your premises, the more you will get charged.

The second element — materials

The materials used also form a big part of the cost of a washing in lane county. You will find that the materials used and the time depends on the same factors. The cost of the materials involved depends solely on the size of the area that you are cleaning, the kind of surface it is and the kind of cleaning that needs to be done. Different pressure washing eugene oregon firms might use different cleaning agents and materials.

Key benefits of pressure washing

Washing especially with the aid of pressure is becoming more and more popular with the residents and the companies of eugene, OR. Although clean house exteriors and office buildings are very necessary to leave a good impression on visitors, fresh exteriors also keep the owners of the place in good spirits.

Pressure washing for a good first impression

Before your guests move into your house, the first things that they see are your driveway, then your walkway, and after that your house from outside. This is the right time to make a good impression. Unclean and mould struck exteriors are sure to spoil your first impression; no matter how well maintained your house is from inside. Similarly, if your office exteriors are not in good shape, you might loose on some of your good prospective clients. Pressure washing makes your exteriors look clean and fresh.

An economical way to revamp your place

Be it your home or office, pressure washing makes for an economical way to revamp your place. Maintenance of long-term assets is necessary to save the huge investments that they might demand for their replacement. It is always better to maintain the exteriors of your office and house through periodical cleaning than waiting for their early replacement to become inevitable. For instance, it can be very expensive to replace your roofs, sidewalks, or decks. However, it takes a little to preserve them through pressure washing services.

Protection from mould and fungal infections

Pressure washing is not all about looks and reputation. Moreover, a hygienic and healthy place to live in and work are also some its benefits. It takes care of the various destructive organic invasions that might spoil the authenticity of your home or office. Mold and fungal infections work gradually and have the potential to eventually rip down even the most strong structures and dwellings. If your house or building is left unattended, mildew and fungi can affect their exteriors such as bricks, concrete, decks, sidewalks, and roofs.

Power Washing Service Prices:( Please set-up a time for estimate and price)

Houses (Siding Only)

* $300 and up (single-family homes.prices will vary depending on the size)

(These are only guesstimate’s! Please inquire to set-up a time to see property or project for proper estimate.Thank You)

* Cedar Shake Roofs -(Will not do, and have done these while working with one incompetent company. Should only be left to a professional that only works on these roofs.Not all power washing companies in Lane County are certified to do these roofs.We have seen many companies within lane county clean these cedar shake roofs only to further damage them.We use to see leaks happen and etc.One company I recommend is Cedar Tech Roof Care.These people know what they are doing.)

Reducing home extension costs

There can be opportunities at several stages of the process to reduce costs. Here are some possible ideas:

Do you actually need to extend or are there ways of rearranging the existing accommodation? If not entirely doing away with the need to extend it might reduce its size. See Internal alterations

Are there underutilised parts of the building such as integral garages, lofts etc. which may be more cost effective to convert?

Are there suitable parts of the building that may be built over such as previous ground floor extensions which might save on foundation costs etc? It does not necessarily need to be exactly the same size as the proposed extension, particularly with lighter weight forms of construction it is often possible to cantilever beyond the building below or set the building in and retain some roof around the lower building.

Does extending to other parts of the building save possible problems and expense of perhaps moving drains or other services?

If you live in a semi detached or terrace house is there potential to build at the same time as a neighbour? Party walls are generally cheaper and take up less room than two separate external walls and a larger project might obtain more competitive quotes.

If over 100m 2 it may be subject to a Community Infrastructure Levy in which case it may be worth reducing the size. It may still incur a charge even if under Permitted Development under the ‘Notice of Chargeable Development ‘ procedure.

A flat roof is often cheaper than a pitched roof; the materials used have improved so a longer life can be anticipated from it than was typical a few decades ago. It can also give a more contemporary appearance and can be particularly advantageous over irregular shaped buildings.

Consider contrasting wall materials particularly where the existing might be expensive materials such as handmade bricks or stone. Although it needs to be done with care to avoid it looking cheap, contrasting materials such as render to timber boarding can work well with other materials. Be aware though that you may not be within the definition of similar appearance under permitted development.

Bi-fold doors have become popular but are often more expensive than more conventional hinged or sliding doors which in turn can be more than windows. A combination of conventional hinged or sliding doors and windows may be more cost effective and give similar amount of light, whilst they may not open up as much how often is British weather suitable for that? With upper floors a full depth window may give a similar effect to doors and a Juliet balcony but at a lower cost.

With kitchens it is sometimes possible to combine carcases etc. from cheaper outlets with higher quality work tops etc. or even reuse existing carcases with new doors. Place orders for kitchens etc. during sale times provided they are prepared to hold onto them until actually required.There are also companies around dealing in second hand or ex-display designer kitchens which can enable you to purchase a quality kitchen at a fraction of the new cost.

Consider whether solar panels may be suitable, in the longer term it may be more cost effective to fit them to an extension rather than potentially fitting them over the finished roof in years to come. The feed in tariffs that are paid to some approved installations might help to pay towards the extension!

With extensions such as raising the whole roof, this can sometimes be done in a way such that the existing structure is left in place until the new roof is weatherproof avoiding the need for expensive temporary roofs.

Find out when builders in your area are generally less busy and try work around this for a more favourable price.

If you live in one of the more expensive parts of the country for building works see if recommended builders from outside the area would be prepared to travel in or if you can provide accommodation are willing to stay overnight.

It can be more of a gamble dealing with more recently established companies but they may be willing to negotiate a better price and may not be registered for VAT yet.

If you are prepared to spend time searching on the internet you may be able to get better prices for some items than tradesmen using their regular suppliers. This probably works best where you are employing them on a labour only basis although you may be able to come to some arrangement with them in other circumstances.

Where the work is fairly extensive consider moving out altogether if this can be done without significant costs as this enables the builder to program the works in a faster and more efficient way.

For very extensive works it may be worth considering demolishing the existing building and starting again. As well as potentially saving the VAT (see HMRC website ) on new builds it may avoid any compromises in using the existing structure and would mean the building fully complies with new standards of insulation etc.

RV Rubber Roof But What Type?

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Over the years RV manufacturers used many different types of materials in the construction of RV roofs. Materials like galvanized metal, fiberglass and aluminum were the final layer of protection for the RV roof. Then about 20 years ago the RV industry discovered a new and improved RV roofing product that would change the way RV roofs were finished. The product was a rubber roofing membrane, and it made sense because it was lightweight, seamless, easy to install, easy to maintain, cost-effective, and resistant to ozone and UV rays from the sun.

For the most part there are two types of rubber roofing used in the RV industry: Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) and Thermal Poly Olefin (TPO). The problem is each type has its own unique characteristics and care and maintenance requirements, but most RV owners dont know which type of rubber roof they have.

Do I have an EPDM or TPO RV rubber roof?

The best way to determine the type of rubber roof you have is to see what your RV owner’s manual says. Normally it will specify the type of RV rubber roof membrane used on the RV, and it will provide cleaning and maintenance instructions and intervals as well. If you don’t have an RV owner’s manual, or it doesn’t specify the type of roofing used, there are a couple ways to distinguish between the two types of RV rubber roofing.

EPDM RV rubber roof: To help protect against ozone and UV rays EPDM roofing membrane is designed to oxidize or shed over time. It is not a big concern because it will probably shed less than 10% of its overall thickness in a 10 to 12 year time period. As a result of this shedding the tell-tale signs of EPDM rubber roofs are the gray or white streaks you see on the sides of the RV.

TPO RV rubber roof: TPO rubber roofing has a glossy look and does not oxidize or shed, so there are no gray or white streaks noticeable on the sides of your RV.

Still not Sure? Another way to distinguish between the two is to see how slippery the rubber surface is when it is wet. EPDM rubber roofing is extremely slippery when it is wet, whereas TPO is not. Caution: Regardless of how slippery the surface is always exercise caution when working on your RV roof!

Keep in mind we only discussed the two most popular types of rubber roofing used on RVs. There are other products, like vinyl materials, being used on RV roofs. To properly care for and maintain your RV roof its important you know what the finished roofing material is made of.

Special Note: Be careful where you get your information on making repairs to your rubber roof. I always see articles where the author says to just put some silicone caulking on the roof to make repairs. EPDM rubber membrane can be damaged by products containing oil or petroleum. Both EPDM and TPO rubber roofing warns against using petroleum solvents, harsh abrasives or citric based products and cleaners.

I personally use Dicor 501 LSW Self-Leveling Sealant for repairs on rubber roofs. This sealant is used in the RV industry by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and for aftermarket use. It is compatible with EPDM and TPO rubber products, galvanized metal, aluminum and fiberglass roofs. This dicor product is available at most local RV dealerships.